Are there any disadvantage to dental sealants that we need to worry about? our dentist recommended that our daughter get dental sealants. i never had those as a kid and don't know much about them. they sound like they might really help with cavities, but

Sealants : Sealants do help quite a bit with cavities, and we recommend them to most of our young adults. There are no real side effects. Just understand that they last only a couple of years and may have to be redone. Once a sealant wears away or chips, the tooth is once again succeptible to cavities. Your daughter will still need her check ups to have her teeth monitored and cleaned. Sealants protect the biting surfaces of the posterior teeth... Good brushing and flossing help between the teeth.

All positive: We did not get sealants when we were kids because they were not around then. Sealants use the same technology as a bonded filling but to help prevent tooth decay, not just to treat it. They reduce the chance of cavities on permanent molars by about 80%. Sealants are safe and effective. Have your dentist apply a sealant without bpa, such as ultraseal, if that is a concern.

Sealants are great!: Dental sealants are second only to brushing/flossing and Fluoride to help prevent decay in the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Most dentists will seal the 6 year molars as these are most prone to chewing surface decay. Depending upon the child's oral hygiene habits, your dentist may recommend sealing additional permanent teeth as they erupt. Sealants have no effect on cavities between teeth.

Go for it!: Sealants are flowed into the deep grooves on the chewing surfaces of back teeth, preventing bacteria from lodging in the grooves and turning sugars into acid. Sealants, combined with Fluoride management, have resulted in dramatic reduction in incidence of decayed, missing, and filled teeth. So today's kids don't require as much "dentistry" as your generation, which is a very good thing.

Not Really: Dental sealants help reduce the risk of developing cavities on the biting surfaces of teeth. No real disadvantages to them.